All rainwater contains some level of acidity. Normal rainwater has a pH of 5.6. When the pH level of rainwater goes below 5.6, it is considered acid rain.
Acid rain is a popular term for the atmospheric deposition of acidified rain, snow, sleet, hail, acidifying gases and particles, as well as acidified fog and cloud water. The increased acidity of these depositions, primarily from the strong acids, sulfuric and nitric, is generated as a by-product of the combustion of fuels containing sulfur or nitrogen, especially fossil fuel power plants, factories, and automobiles. Rotting vegetation and erupting volcanoes also release some chemicals that can cause acid rain, but most acid rain falls because of human activities.
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) react with water, oxygen, and other substances to form mild solutions of sulfuric and nitric acid. Winds may spread these acidic solutions across the atmosphere and over hundreds of miles. When acid rain reaches Earth, it flows across the surface in runoff water, enters water systems, and sinks into the soil.
Acid rain is mainly caused by these substances that are being released into the air, such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hazardous air pollutants (HAPS), Lead, nitrogen oxides, ozone, particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxides, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Acid rain is mainly caused by these substances that are being released into the air, such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hazardous air pollutants (HAPS), Lead, nitrogen oxides, ozone, particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxides, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
The principal natural phenomena that contribute acid-producing gases to the atmosphere are emissions from volcanoes. Thus, for example, fumaroles from Laguna Caliente crater of Poas Volcano create extremely high amounts of acid rain and fog with acidity 2 of pH, clearing an area of any vegetation and frequently causing irritation to the eyes and lungs of inhabitants in nearby settlements. Nitric acid in rainwater is an important source of fixed nitrogen for plant life, and is also produced by electrical activity in the atmosphere such as lightning.
Automobiles release harmful smoke into the air, which causes acid rain. Coal power plants are one of the most polluting. The gases can be carried hundreds of kilometers in the atmosphere before they are converted to acids and deposited. Factories now have taller smoke funnels. However, dispersal from these taller stacks causes pollutants to be carried farther, causing widespread ecological damage.
Acid rain has been shown to have adverse impacts on forests, freshwater's and soils, killing insect and aquatic life-forms as well as causing damage to buildings and having impacts on human health.
Acid rain makes 
waters acidic and causes them to absorb the aluminum that makes its way from soil into lakes and streams. This combination makes waters toxic to crayfish, clams, fish, and other aquatic animals. Most of the fishes, frogs and insects will die when the water reaches a pH of 4.5. With a pH of 5.5, all of the bottom-dwelling bacterial decomposers will begin to die. If acid rain gets to be more of a problem, then all of the sea life will eventually be gone.
Acid rain also damages forests, especially those at higher elevations. It robs the soil of essential nutrients and releases aluminum in the soil, which makes it hard for trees to take up water. Trees' leaves and needles are also harmed by acids. The effects of acid rain, combined with other environmental stressors, leave trees and plants less able to withstand cold temperatures, insects, and disease. The pollutants may also inhibit trees' ability to reproduce. This also stunts the growth of mosses, algae, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and fungi that are needed to help the forest grow. In areas where the soil's "buffering capacity" is low, the harmful effects of acid rain are much greater.
waters acidic and causes them to absorb the aluminum that makes its way from soil into lakes and streams. This combination makes waters toxic to crayfish, clams, fish, and other aquatic animals. Most of the fishes, frogs and insects will die when the water reaches a pH of 4.5. With a pH of 5.5, all of the bottom-dwelling bacterial decomposers will begin to die. If acid rain gets to be more of a problem, then all of the sea life will eventually be gone.Acid rain also damages forests, especially those at higher elevations. It robs the soil of essential nutrients and releases aluminum in the soil, which makes it hard for trees to take up water. Trees' leaves and needles are also harmed by acids. The effects of acid rain, combined with other environmental stressors, leave trees and plants less able to withstand cold temperatures, insects, and disease. The pollutants may also inhibit trees' ability to reproduce. This also stunts the growth of mosses, algae, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and fungi that are needed to help the forest grow. In areas where the soil's "buffering capacity" is low, the harmful effects of acid rain are much greater.
Acid rain affects our health. Some of the most common health problems are breathing problems, nervous system problems, and lung problems. Breathing and lung problems in children and adults who have asthma and in children have been linked to acid air pollution. Everything that we eat, drink, and breathe has at one time come in contact with acid deposits.
Acid rain can decay building materials and paints. Worst of all, it can also damage buildings and historic monuments, especially those made of rocks such as limestone and marble containing large amounts of calcium carbonate. Acids in the rain react with the calcium compounds in the stones to create gypsum, which then flakes off. The effects of this are commonly seen on old gravestones, where acid rain can cause the inscriptions to become completely illegible. Acid rain also increases the oxidation rate of metals, in particular copper and bronze.
The only way to fight acid rain is by curbing the release of the pollutants that cause it. This means burning fewer fossil fuels. Many governments have tried to curb emissions by cleaning up industry smokestacks and promoting alternative fuel sources.
Individuals can also help prevent acid rain by conserving energy. The less electricity people use in their homes, the fewer chemicals power plants will emit. Vehicles are also major fossil fuel users, so drivers can reduce emissions by using public transportation, carpooling, biking, or simply walking wherever possible.
But even if acid rain could be stopped today, it would still take many years for its harmful effects to disappear.
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